Former NHL drafted netminder joins Belfast Giants with sights set on continuing upward trajectory
While Whistle has proven himself to be capable of carrying the team to an Elite League title, being named the Giants' MVP last season in helping them win a League and Challenge Cup double thanks to a superb .928 save percentage, Gravel comes in with an excellent reputation.
The Berlin-born netminder was not only drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Blackhawks but has won scores of individual awards during his career, including being named Outstanding Goaltender and to the First All-Star Team at the 2019 CHL Memorial Cup with the Halifax Mooseheads.
As the Giants always look for during the off-season, Gravel also brings plenty of winning experience on the ice, too, having claimed gold with Canada at the 2018 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and the 2022 University Cup with the University of Québec-Trois-Rivières.
The latter of those achievements, coming in the first of three years with the Patriotes which saw him win silver in the University Cup in 2024, was accompanied by more individual recognition as Gravel was named the competition's Most Valuable Player, and he would rack up two more Second All-Star Team awards in his following two seasons.
And he has since translated that into the professional sphere, returning to the full-time ranks last season – he had a brief stop with the Allen Americans in 2021 – with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears and excelled, putting up a .927 save percentage in 23 games and earning himself a brief loan spell with the AHL's Belleville Senators.
His season would end in Mannheim, where he was signed to provide backup to now Dallas Stars goaltender Arno Tiefensee and veteran Felix Brückmann for the Deutsche Eishockey Liga Play-Offs, but he would make just two appearances for the Eagles.
Now, however, he will look to win the battle for the starter's jersey out of training camp with Whistle ahead of their Champions League tilt, starting with a meeting with Finnish champions KalPa on August 28, but, regardless of who does come out on top, the Giants look very well-served at netminder.
'I'm really excited to be joining the Giants. I've heard great things about the club, the city, and especially the fanbase. Playing in Belfast is a great opportunity to continue developing my game and to compete for championships. I can't wait to get started,' commented Gravel.
Keefe added: 'Alexis is a big young goalie with a bright future. He has played in some very big games throughout his career and has consistently risen to the challenge. He is an extremely competitive individual who wants to win.
"He had a great first year pro last season, and we think he is only going to continue to get better. We are excited to bring him to Belfast.'
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